La Candela Viva - Toto La Momposina Sus Tambores

Advantages: It's Coldplay!
Disadvantages: /

...Having been a fan of Coldplay since their first album "Parachutes" in 1999, I always await each new album with great anticipation, with this anticipation rising after each is released due to the increasing quality of every one. So I got myself into the spirit by listening to X&Y a solid four times and downloaded "Viva La Vida" as soon as I could. I'd already heard a few tracks from various radioplay and also seeing them on different TV shows here and there and was certainly happy with what I heard. Although in all honesty I could have been listening to to someones nails scratching a blackboard and still be happy. After all, its Coldplay right? Anyhow, I pressed streamed it to my 360 and started listening whilst I played a bit of FIFA. The first song, Life in Technicolor is an instrumental, and, although is not what I'd class... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Hugely developed range of instruments and innovation.
Disadvantages: Takes a while to get into.

...Coldplay released their fourth album "Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends" on Parlophone Records on June 12. The album comprises 10 brand new tracks, recorded in London, Barcelona and New York with producers Brian Eno and Markus Dravs. Opening with a spine-tinglingly beautiful near-instrumental tune called Life in Technicolor, and using a newly expanded musical range - strings, timpani, thrumming bass grooves - singer Chris Martin and his bandmates unleash an intellegently constructed sequence of emotion-drenched songs. There's a new sense of adventure in the songwriting, too, as tracks such as 42 and Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love suddenly veer off in unexpected directions. Rather less noticeable are the Latin American influences that are meant to have infused the band's songwriting after their travels to that continent... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A album that builds.
Disadvantages: It takes time and a little effort.

...ColdPlay have moved on to the next level, and although some critics have knocked them, listen to "Viva La Vida" for the music. This is the sort of album you need to sit and listen to, and although all the tracks are strong, it's not a 'dip in' and listen type. This is a well constructed body of work, played it in the car on the way down to Cornwall, I wasn't bouncing out of my seat, but when it finished, wow! This is definitely what albums are for. From the atmospheric opening of the first track "Life In Technicolor" (their spelling) the album builds and each track follows naturally. There is undeniably a feel of 'the concept album', a couple of tracks with a 'Pink Floyd' mood to them and a little Leonard Cohen mixed in as well, but not in an 'over blown' manner. If you are an MP3 'shuffle' type, this might not suit, but for all... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful